Understanding Adobe Photoshop CS6

For Imaging Professionals
By Ko Maruyama

A new year; a new chance to expand your skillset. This weekend, I looked at "Understanding Adobe Photoshop CS6 for Imaging Professionals". It's a long title, and there are three differently treated fonts in the title treatment - don't let that dissuade you from peeking inside. This is Photoshop we're talking about. You've heard about it. You've purchased the latest version. And now, you want to jump in and figure out how to work it like a pro. Richard Harrington has just the book for you.

You may be new to Photoshop, or you're a junior user who wants to improve their skills, or it's possible that you've just enrolled in Adobe's CreativeCloud which comes with Photoshop CS6 as part of the subscription. If you're looking to bolster our PSD/imaging chops, this book (and multiple support files) can help you in the right direction.

Photoshop is a big application. I'm sure it started out as a smaller photo retouching solution at one point, but now the application has specialized tools for photographers, designers, web developers, animators (and probably others that I'm forgetting to mention). This book is specialized for the user who need to get up to speed on how to edit and print/export images quickly.

Understanding Adobe Photoshop CS6 for Imaging Professionals (UAPCS6FIP?) (Understanding PS CS6) really excels in educating new users about many of the essential tools that are needed in handling single images. Photographers and layout artists can get a great jump on how Photoshop CS6 works, and what some of the new tools can offer. As much as Harrington does a good job showing the features and tools, where this book really excels is in its explanation of terminology.

This book is for (as it states in the title) "Imaging Professionals". It's for people who want to become imaging professionals too. Harrington explains many of the terms that you'll use daily as a professional. If you're already a pro, you'll see how those terms apply to the application. If you're a student, not only will you learn what the tools do, but you'll have the language to communicate editing your images when you're sitting in a professional studio. Other PRO tips for students are peppered throughout the book. Some of the tips will pleasantly surprise even veteran Photoshop users.

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One of the great features in the book is the quizzing system. I really like the way this book reinforces new skills by quizzing you. Unfortunately, the quiz is on the disc, and requires that you play it through Flash - I'm not a fan of the delivery. It'd be great if the quiz was in the book. The DVD includes all kinds of materials and goodies too, including additional Photoshop exercises to practice what you've learned. I haven't gone over the entireDVD with all of the project files, so I can't review those materials properly, but I wanted to quickly publish this review in the "New Years Education" series. Many people have decided to take up learning a new software skill; this book might help you out.

NINJACRAYON RATING:

This book is RECOMMENDED READING for anyone who is new to Adobe Photoshop.

Note, however, that this is a specialized book. The title says so! If you're looking to find out how to use Photoshop for animation or for web layout, this isn't for you (but Harrington may have written one).

Check it out, especially if you've decided that you need the software to repair all of those antique family photos that have been waiting for this year's resolution!

Ko Maruyama is a freelance animator in Los Angeles. In addition to working on film and broadcast animations, Ko teaches at Pasadena's Art Center College of Design - focusing on motion design. When working, writing or testing software allows, you can find him lending a hand in the After Effects board and lurking among the Cinema4D, Visual Effects and Photoshop posts within the DMNForums.Related Keywords:book review, Adobe, Photoshop, Photography, after effects, computer, hobby, animation